The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

None of that changes who YOU are, it just changes how you think about THEM. Loss of trust is something that never heals completely.

So true.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Wow. Those are some amazing family histories.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Been crazy-busy still with work issues though I'm supposed to be off this and next week. Just a quick stop in to post a photo of Brother Green from yesterday. 26 week Dominique.

 

[1muttsfan]

What a lovely boy.

 

[Leahs Mom]

So far he's behaved himself quite well. But he did just start mating last week so we'll see how it goes over the next few weeks.

 

[getaclue]

Leah's mom, seeing your Dominique reminds me of a story my grandmother told about my dad when he was a little boy. They had a Dalmation, and she had puppies fathered by another Dalmation in the neighborhood. The pups were all spoken for. When the pups got nearly big enough to be given to their new owners, my grandmother was concerned about how my dad would take it. She tried to break it to him gently, and told him that it wouldn't be long, and they would be ready to go to their new homes. He wasn't too happy about it at the time, but a couple days later she got a phone call from a neighbor. He had loaded the pups in his wagon, and was going around the neighborhood trying to find homes for them.

When the neighbor lady asked him what kind of puppies they were. He paused, scratched his head, and said " They're Domineckers". The neighbor lady chuckled. She knew the pups were all spoken for, but just had to call to tell my grandmother that her son was giving away Dominecker puppies.

 

[speckledhen]

He's a handsome guy!

My poor Atlas is being eaten alive by Wynette. She picks at his comb, plucks his hackles and saddles, etc. Yesterday evening, I left Tom to finish locking up the barn when I heard banging on the deck. I got out and he says that someone is bleeding badly in Atlas's pen. I say look for a pulled toenail and make my way out there. Nope, it's the front of his comb where Wynette has been chewing on the poor guy. There is literally a huge puddle of blood on a roost shelf and blood has run down into his left nare and is almost clotting now. So, I tell Tom to pick him up, I dipped a paper towel in their cold water and I go over to Atlas, who, of course, flinches when I approach his face. So, I bend into his face and soothingly say, "Atlas, Mama has to fix your comb, easy, baby." And he immediately holds perfectly still and lets me dab at the dried blood and clean him up. Then, I sprinkled some DE from the parmesan cheese shaker I use onto the damp paper towel and dab it onto the comb, which stops whatever is still bleeding slowly. That DE is better than any blood stop powder, let me tell you! You just can't get it into their eyes. He is such a good boy, my Atlas. Those hussies are so mean to him! GRRR!

 

[Leahs Mom]

OUCH!

 

[speckledhen]

When the neighbor lady asked him what kind of puppies they were. He paused, scratched his head, and said " They're Domineckers". The neighbor lady chuckled. She knew the pups were all spoken for, but just had to call to tell my grandmother that her son was giving away Dominecker puppies.

 

[1muttsfan]

Love hurts